Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a comprehensive, decision-making process designed to identify and reduce potential conflicts of human uses, and to organize marine and coastal activity in a spatial context that best maintains ecosystem functions and services. The Center for Ocean Solutions (COS) believes that marine spatial planning should be ecosystem-based and informed by the best scientific understanding of marine ecosystems, as well as economic, political and social guidelines. We work with a diverse array of partners and stakeholders to understand existing challenges, as well as to identify scientific and institutional innovations that could make MSP a good solution at various geographic scales.